The government’s plan to raise the retirement age was met with backlash from workers, especially blue-collar migrant workers. It is difficult for migrant workers to find jobs that pay for social security for 15 years--the prerequisite for getting a pension when retired. Workers are worried that the retirement age reform would make things even harder. There is a disparity in social security coverage and benefits between urban workers and migrant workers. Many migrant workers still have to work after the retirement age, with little or no social security. Precarious and informal employment across sectors is a significant reason and will likely continue with the growing gig economy.
12 July 2024
Industry by industry, how are China’s workers faring in this difficult economic environment?
31 January 2024
Workers at TRP Connector, a Bel Fuse factory, were encouraged to “voluntarily resign,” and remaining workers now face layoffs
20 October 2023
Workers at the Wing Ming factory in Guangdong province went on strike in May and protested through July as factory gets “consolidated”
08 September 2023
The 2022 official estimate of the population of rural migrant workers in China is 296 million, comprising more than one-third of the entire working population. They have been the engine of China’s spectacular economic growth over the last three decades but remain marginalized, and their children have limited access to education and healthcare.
06 September 2023
Supporting the workers' movement in China
18 August 2023
China’s job shortage means more workers are performing flexible labour through platforms like Yushibao, and they need guarantees that they will be paid
31 July 2023
Supporting the workers' movement in China
17 July 2023
What rights do workers have under the law? How is the law enforced? And what is the role of the trade union? CLB provides succinct answers to these frequently asked questions about labour relations in China.
10 July 2023
Job creation and higher living standards have long been key objectives for the Chinese government. However, millions of workers in traditional industries have been laid off and many of the new jobs being created in the service sector are insecure, poorly paid, and leave workers without social security and employment contracts.
15 May 2023